Life-preserver.



Patented Spt. 10, 1918.

WITNESSES INVENTOR.

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H UNITED STATES PATENT oEEro.

WILLIAM W. HAUPT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A-SSIGNOR TO CHARLES KRUTCKOFF, 0F

' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LIFE-PRESERVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

Application filed December 28, 1917. Serial N 0. 209,256

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM WV. HAUPT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers, of'which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in life-preservers, and more particularly to the inflatable type adapted to be worn by a person in such a manner as to insure against drowning in cases of emergency.

An object of my invention is to provide a life-preserver of such form and construction as to insure that the buoyant foroeis always so applied that the head and chest of the wearer will remain above, water without the necessity of relying on balance weights or like expedients to maintain the body in upright position.

7 A further object is to provide in the construction of an inflatable life-preserver suitable buoyant materials so distributed with relation to the inflatable chamber as to exert a buoyant force sufficient to prevent a person from sinking in case of a puncture or inoperativeness of the inflatable chamber valves.

And a further obj cot is to provide a lifepreserver having an air chamber which shall be so simple in its construction and operation as to require no attention or manipulation on the part of the wearer.

An embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which .Figure l is a front elevation of my improved life-preserver, indicating the wearer thereof by dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the device, showing the air chamber thereof fully inflated; I I

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section taken through the device, showing buoyant material employed therein;

Fig. t is a sectionalview similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modified form of life-preserver.

Fig. 5 is fragmentary front elevation showing the lower portion of saidmodified form of life-preserver;and I Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view show- '9 being ing the manner of securing the buoyant material in both forms of my invention.

The preferred form of construction as shown in the drawing comprises an annular collapsible air chamber adapted to surround the body of the wearer, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The inner and outer walls 1 and 2, respectively, of said chamber are preferably formed of'a rubber-coated fabric which is substantially water and airproof, but a plain fabric without such coating may be employed with good results. The inner wall 1 is substantially cylindrical in form, but in use, when thedevice is fully inflated it conforms to the contour of the body of the wearer, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The outer wall 2 comprises a plurality of substantially pear-shaped gores 3, the edges of which are secured together by stitching, in much the same manner as in making a dress. 'After thus making up outer wall 2, a plurality of strips 4 are vulcanized to the inner side thereof in such a manner as to cover the seams at the adj oining edges of gores 3. Said strips serve not only to strengthen the structure, but act as stiffening elements, tending normally to expand the outer wall, whereby the air chamber will normally contain a certain amount of air, as will be explained hereinafter.

The inner wall 1 extends downwardly to form a seat portion 5 adapted to pass be tween the legs of the wearer, thus forming a convenient support when in the water. Instead of providing a seat portion 5 as shown in Fig. 2, a pair of straps 6 may extend forwardly and downwardly from the sides of the device, as shown in Fig. 1. One strap 6 terminates in a snap-hook 7 and the other in a cooperating loop 8, an adjusting device provided, whereby the straps may be adjusted to any size desired in order to snugly fit the abdominal portion of the wearer.

A pair of straps 10 having adjustable buckles 11 secured thereon are fastened at the rear of the device to a band 12 and are adapted to engage snap-hooks 13, as clearly shown in the several views. Straps 1O serve to prevent movement of the device when the wearer enters the water head first, as

in diving.

Secured to the outer wall 2 near the cen tral portion of the front gore 3is a bent tube 14: serving as an inlet to the air cham- Iio ber. Preferably, tube 14; is provided with. a flange 15 and the end thereof is threaded to screw into a nut 16 located within the wall, whereby the fabric is clamped and an air and water-tight joint formed. A normally straigl'it flexible tube 17 is secured to bent tube 11 and extends upwardly to a point above band 12 and within easy reach of the mouth of the wearer, there being a mouthpiece 18 at the upper extremity of tube 17 in which a check-valve, not shown, is provided, whereby air may be blown into the chamber but is prevented from egress therefrom. A clip 19 secured to band 12 retains tube 17 in operative position. Near the bottom of the front gore 3 an outlet tube 20 is disposed, the same being secured to the fabric in a manner similar to that described in connection with inlet tube 1st. A cap 21 is threadedly secured to outlet tube 20 and may be removed when desirable to allow air to be forced from the chamber.

While the device as thus far described is operative for an etlicient lifeprcserve1.', it is found to be desirable to incorporate buoyant material in the structure so that, in case of accidental deflation of the air chamber, enough buoyancy will still remain to prevent the wearer from sinking. T 0 this end silk floss 22, a seaweed product, is wrapped around inner wall 1 and retained in place by a partitioi'iingwall as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. By means of stitching 2% a quilted or padded structure is formed, which not only is very light and buoyant but affords a degree of protection to the wearer against cold and stormy weather. The upper and lower edges of partition wall 23 are joined to walls 1 and 2 as shown, or any wellknown securing means may be employed which will be understood by those skilled in the art.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that. the air chamber is deflated and that the device has been folded and stored away ready for use, then upon applying the device to the wearer in the manner disclosed in the drawing, a certain amount of air will be drawn into the chamber auton'iatically, since stiffening strips 4 tend to bulge the outer wall 2 as shown. In this manner suflicient air is drawn into the air chamber to float the body of the wearer.

While the device is disclosed in the drawing in its fully inflated condition, it is to be understood that this is merely by way of showing the structure and that normally in use only a small quantity of air is necessary, the full capacity of the device being sufficient to float several persons. .Vith the chamber only partially inflated, owing to the form thereof, the air will rise to the upper portion and the buoyant force will be applied at a point well above the waist of the wearer, so that the head and chest are maintained above water without the necessity of relying on weights or other means to hold the body in upright position. Furthermore, the wearer can assume any po sition he may desire in the water, the air shifting constantly in the chamber and being always disposed at the highest point therein.

Should the wearer be seized with cramp or other danger b apparent, he need only blow through the mouth-piece 18 to quickly inflate the device to its fullest extent, when it will support him indefinitely and will also serve to support several other persons, depending on the size of the device.

In the modified form of life-prescrvers shown in Fig. 4:, the mouth-piece and valves are dispensed with, and the wearer depends on the automatic shifting of the limited amount of air contained in the chamber to the upper portion thereof, indicated by dotted line. Since the outer wall is flexible and due to partial inflation of the chamber the air therein is readily distributed to the point of greatest efficiency. The lower edge of the inner wall in this form is hemmed and provided with a cord 25 in order to gather or contract said edge to snugly fit the wearer. Buoyant material is provided as in the other forms.

it will be noted that the buoyant material provided in my life-preserver increases the factor of safety thereof. The inherent lightness and buoyancy of silk floss will be rctained regardless of what may happen to the air chamber and the valves therefor.

While 1 have illustrated and described the preferred forms for carrying my invention into effect, these are capable of variations and modifications without departing from the spirit of my invention. 1 therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. An inflatable life-preserver comprising an inner substantially cylindrical wall and a bulging outer wall concentric therewith, the upper and lower edges of said walls being fastened together for forming an annular air chamber, means for permitting ingress and egress of air to and from said chamber. and a flexible layer of padding of bu yant material surrounding said inner wall whereby said flexible layer and air chambers will readily be accommodated to the movements of the wearer.

2. An inflatable life-preserver comprising an inner substantially cylindrical wall and means for securing the same to a person, an outer wall disposed concentrically to said inner wall and secured thereto at the upper and lower edges thereof, whereby an air chamber is formed, said outer wall comprising bulging gores secured at their adjoining edges by stitching, stiffening strips fastened to said gores at the seams thereof, a partitioning wall disposed intermediate said inner and outer walls, a filling comprising a flexible layer of buoyant material between said inner wall and partitioning wall, whereby said flexible layer and air chambers will readily be accommodated to the movement of the wearer and means permitting ingress and egress of air to and from the chamber formed by said walls.

3. An inflatable life-preserver comprising an inner cylindrical wall and an outer wall concentric therewith, means for fastening together the upper and lower edges of said walls whereby an air chamber is formed, means for securing said inner wall to a person, stiffening strips provided on said outer wall tending to bulge the same outwardly, and a flexible layer of b'uoyant material interposed between said outer and inner walls whereby said flexible layer and air chambers will readily be accommodated to the movements of the wearer.

l. An inflatable life-preserver comprising an outer bulging wall circular in cross-sec-' tion, an inner wall disposed concentrically to said outer wall and fastened thereto at the upper and lower edges thereof whereby an air chamber is formed, means for inflating and deflating the annular chamber thus formed, and a flexible layer of padding of buoyant material surrounding said inner wall, whereby said flexible layer and air chambers will readily be accommodated to the movements of the wearer.

An inflatable life-preserver comprising an outer substantially cylindrical wall and stiffening means normally bulging the upper portion thereof, an inner wall arranged concentrically to said outer wall and secured thereto at the upper and lower edges thereof for forming an annular air chamber, means for securing said inner wall to a person, means for permitting, ingress and egress of air to and from said chamber, an intermediate wall arranged between said outer and inner walls, and a filling comprising a flexible layer of buoyant material interposed between said inner and intermediatewalls, whereby said flexible layer and air chambers will readily be accommodated to the movements of the wearer.

6. An inflated life-preserver comprising an inner wall for inclosing the body of a wearer, an annular outer wall of flexible material connected at the upper and lower edges thereof to corresponding edges of said inner wall, whereby an air chamber is formed, a lining comprising a flexible layer of silk floss surrounding said inner Wall, whereby said flexible layer and air chambers will readily be accommodated to the movements of the wearer, said outer wall being spaced from said silk floss to form an air chamber, and means for contracting the lower edge of the inner wall to snugly flt the wearer.

7. A life-preserver comprising a partially inflated annular air chamber for surrounding the body of the wearer and covering a substantial portion thereof, comprising inner and outer flexible walls between which air is distributed in a substantially uniform layer when the preserver is worn out of the water, whereby the preserver may be comfortably worn as a garment, the lower portions of the walls collapsing and forcing the air into the upper part of the chamber when the preserver is worn in the water and a flexible layer of buoyant material distributed adjacent said inner flexible wall, whereby said flexible wall and flexible layer will readily be accommodated to the movements of the wearer.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM w. HAUPT.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

